how to format hard drive in ext4?
 

I'm formatting a hard drive for ubuntu 9.04 install, and I need to know which hex code to use to specify ext4. I did "l", but I can't make heads or tails out of the list.

As always, any help is greatly appreciated!

db

Okay, I figured it out. Sometimes I amaze myself with my lack of ability to read....

LMAO!!!

db

You may wish to mark your thread as solved from the Thread Tools menu so this doesn't unnecessarily draw people.

You might also want to relay what your solution was so others can benefit from your knowledge.

The solution wsa to read the directions and use my head for something other than a doorstop. Hence my previous comment. I don't know about y'all, but I make a sport of ragging on myself, so just imagine a healthy dose of sarcasm when I refer to me.

Anyhow, using command 'l' from within fdisk gives the table containing number codes for various file systems. It showed the native linux file system (83, I think, or maybe 84), so I used it. Then I was given the option of choosing specifically which version, and chose ext4.

My biggest problem is I am so used to Windows, where thinking will get you in trouble. So I'm having to learn a new mindset to make Ubuntu work. It's kinda nice, really...

On a brighter note, I was able to format my hard drive, and install Ubuntu, Apache, MySQL, PHP, NFS, and a couple of other goodies. The upshot of which is I can now build websites in Dreamweaver (about the only Windows app I can't quite give up yet) on my Vista machine, and it will save them to my public_html directory on my Ubuntu machine. I am lovin' it! So I can test/debug without having to FTP to a remote server anymore, and I don't have to muck around with moving files either. It's all maintained in a stable structure, all I gotta do is build webpages. YEEHAAA!!

db

do a fdisk < your device name >

type n and your partition number when the partition is created press w to write it and press p again to verify it.

Once thats done to a partprobe < your device name > to update the kernel regarding the changes,then you can format it with mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2 or what ever it is.

Remember mkfs,ext4 is very unforgiving, won't detect that specified partition is not ext4. will ruin your partition as soon as you hit the Enter key after the syntactically correct Command.

I just ruined my /ntfs partition, which is now unrecoverable as far as I know.



--
"Linux in a cute little penguin, will sit back and laugh at your stupidity, and give you a encouraging pat on back for your fights"